the pool, I suggest you do so while I am of a mind to let you go. You do not wish to see me angry.”
“I already saw you angry and still bear the scars,” Reyna shot back.
Wulf took a menacing step in her direction. Reyna gave a startled squeak and fled out the door, taking neither drying cloth nor soap with her. Wulf followed her to the doorway and stopped, watching her disappear into the darkness.
Hands clenched at his sides, Wulf debated whether to follow her to the pool or seek his bed. His body was sore and stiff from wielding his weapons against the raiders. A hot soaking would ease his aching bones.
But that wasn’t the only reason Wulf wanted to visit the volcanic pool. He imagined Reyna naked, standing in the water, steam glistening on her fair skin, and his blood ran hot. Though he willed his mind in another direction, it always returned to lusty thoughts of the blonde beauty.
He wanted Reyna. Why shouldn’t he take her? He owned her. She was his thrall. But she was also afraid of him and he couldn’t bring himself to force himself on her as Rannulf had done.
Wulf considered his choices. Should he fetch Uma or go to his bed alone, his lust unsatisfied? Did he even desire Uma? The answer was a resounding no. Had he desired Uma, he would have had her long ago. She had hinted often enough that she would be a willing bed slave.
Wulf had almost convinced himself to ignore his rampant lust when he recalled that Reyna had fled the hall without drying cloth or soap. A grin stretched his lips. He would be doing Reyna a service by bringing those items to her.
Pleased with his logic, Wulf fetched a drying cloth and some soap from a cupboard and left the hall. His cock twitched with impatience. He felt himself harden with each step closer to the volcanic pool and Reyna.
Reyna had no idea where to find the volcanic pool but she would rather stumble around in the dark than ask Wulf to show her the way. Though the night was black, she was fairly certain Wulf hadn’t followed her. Her relief was enormous when she finally found the pool some distance behind the long house. It was surrounded by trees and foliage, providing a modicum of privacy.
Misty steam hung like a heavy cloud above the pool. Reyna found it immensely inviting. She undressed quickly, folded the clothes Thora had given her and placed them on a nearby rock. She tested the temperature with her foot, found it hot but bearable, and sank down into the water. Relaxing, she closed her eyes and rested her head against the rocky side of the pool. It felt like heaven.
The hot water soothed her frayed nerves but not her troubled mind. She couldn’t purge Wulf from her thoughts. He could lie all he wanted, but she knew the truth. He had brutally stolen her innocence. She had lost consciousness during the assault and had woken in time to see Wulf leaning over her. Vaguely she recalled him scooping her up and taking her aboard his dragon-ship.
Reyna had learned a great deal from that terrifying experience. She had found inner strength and courage during her time in the Byzantine harem and learned that she could take care of herself. She might fear Wulf’s vile plans for her future, but she didn’t fear him. He had already done his worst to her; there was nothing left to fear.
Reyna had no idea why she had saved Wulf’s life. Why hadn’t she let him die? She believed she hated him with every fiber of her being…yet she couldn’t bear to see him die a violent death. Even though he claimed to hate her, he hadn’t treated her cruelly or ordered her to his bed. Wulf was an enigma she had yet to figure out.
Why did he have to be so handsome? Reyna mused. She pictured his face in her mind. High cheekbones, straight nose, well-formed lips and lean, hard jaw. His silver eyes weren’t as cold and empty now as they had been during the voyage to Byzantium. He had barely looked at her then, scarcely acknowledged her existence. No one had bothered her as she
“I already saw you angry and still bear the scars,” Reyna shot back.
Wulf took a menacing step in her direction. Reyna gave a startled squeak and fled out the door, taking neither drying cloth nor soap with her. Wulf followed her to the doorway and stopped, watching her disappear into the darkness.
Hands clenched at his sides, Wulf debated whether to follow her to the pool or seek his bed. His body was sore and stiff from wielding his weapons against the raiders. A hot soaking would ease his aching bones.
But that wasn’t the only reason Wulf wanted to visit the volcanic pool. He imagined Reyna naked, standing in the water, steam glistening on her fair skin, and his blood ran hot. Though he willed his mind in another direction, it always returned to lusty thoughts of the blonde beauty.
He wanted Reyna. Why shouldn’t he take her? He owned her. She was his thrall. But she was also afraid of him and he couldn’t bring himself to force himself on her as Rannulf had done.
Wulf considered his choices. Should he fetch Uma or go to his bed alone, his lust unsatisfied? Did he even desire Uma? The answer was a resounding no. Had he desired Uma, he would have had her long ago. She had hinted often enough that she would be a willing bed slave.
Wulf had almost convinced himself to ignore his rampant lust when he recalled that Reyna had fled the hall without drying cloth or soap. A grin stretched his lips. He would be doing Reyna a service by bringing those items to her.
Pleased with his logic, Wulf fetched a drying cloth and some soap from a cupboard and left the hall. His cock twitched with impatience. He felt himself harden with each step closer to the volcanic pool and Reyna.
Reyna had no idea where to find the volcanic pool but she would rather stumble around in the dark than ask Wulf to show her the way. Though the night was black, she was fairly certain Wulf hadn’t followed her. Her relief was enormous when she finally found the pool some distance behind the long house. It was surrounded by trees and foliage, providing a modicum of privacy.
Misty steam hung like a heavy cloud above the pool. Reyna found it immensely inviting. She undressed quickly, folded the clothes Thora had given her and placed them on a nearby rock. She tested the temperature with her foot, found it hot but bearable, and sank down into the water. Relaxing, she closed her eyes and rested her head against the rocky side of the pool. It felt like heaven.
The hot water soothed her frayed nerves but not her troubled mind. She couldn’t purge Wulf from her thoughts. He could lie all he wanted, but she knew the truth. He had brutally stolen her innocence. She had lost consciousness during the assault and had woken in time to see Wulf leaning over her. Vaguely she recalled him scooping her up and taking her aboard his dragon-ship.
Reyna had learned a great deal from that terrifying experience. She had found inner strength and courage during her time in the Byzantine harem and learned that she could take care of herself. She might fear Wulf’s vile plans for her future, but she didn’t fear him. He had already done his worst to her; there was nothing left to fear.
Reyna had no idea why she had saved Wulf’s life. Why hadn’t she let him die? She believed she hated him with every fiber of her being…yet she couldn’t bear to see him die a violent death. Even though he claimed to hate her, he hadn’t treated her cruelly or ordered her to his bed. Wulf was an enigma she had yet to figure out.
Why did he have to be so handsome? Reyna mused. She pictured his face in her mind. High cheekbones, straight nose, well-formed lips and lean, hard jaw. His silver eyes weren’t as cold and empty now as they had been during the voyage to Byzantium. He had barely looked at her then, scarcely acknowledged her existence. No one had bothered her as she
Similar Books
